Was I out of order

[YouwouldthinkIhavemoresense]

Yesterday I was at a football match and at a stadium. It was heaving and I have never been to a stadium, or indeed a football match, before.
Had my children with me. One of each sex. Just me to add. No other adults.

Anyway, took my youngest to the female toilet with me just before half time. Two men ( or at least I thought they were) - entered as well. Both very masculine looking and dressed very sporty with very short/ shaved haircuts.

So me being me, said quite nonchalantly to one of them “ this is the ladies “… just that.

One of them responded with “ we ARE female “
I apologised for my mistake and thought that was it.

Well, with that, there was then a tirade of passive aggressive behaviour/ comments from both of them: it was all very unpleasant. They even spoke to each other loudly about me whilst in the cubicles.

I then bumped into them whilst washing my hands and they continued to goad me- staring at me, laughing, telling each other to “ calm down” and “ that I wasn’t worth it” , commenting on my face/ appearance.
It was horrid. And all this time I had my child with me.

AIBU in feeling uncomfortable or was my initial reaction really that provoking?

Preparing to be flamed 😬

They wanted to look like men then took offence when they were “mistaken” for men. That’s the bizarre bit

Had my children with me. One of each sex. Just me to add which child did you take to the loo? The male or the female?

And not the point of the thread but people who disrupt my view at football matches by leaving their seats just before half time are monumentally annoying.

Where does it say they wanted to look like men?

They were just..attending a football match. Women can have buzzcuts and wear sports kits too

@fieldsofbutterflies Don’t be obtuse.

Where does it say they wanted to look like men?

A woman who looks like that knows it’s androgynous. I think they just fancied a row

The OP asked if she was out of order. Some people think she was and said so. The Karen comment was quite rightly deleted. I reported it as a personal attack and others may have done so. If you think there is bullying of the OP you are at liberty to report posts if you feel they breach talk guidelines.

You were all rude

@ilovesooty No, I meant an excuse for the two in the toilet to bully the OP, not previous posters

I'm not?

Women can have buzzcuts and wear sports gear without wanting to be mistaken for men

Apologies - I realised that after I posted. I don't actually agree with you but I did misread that.

@fieldsofbutterflies Possible but unlikely

To be fair I think OP may of deserved if someone mistook me for a man and proceeded to tell me to leave the loo I would of been fuming too!

It's like when people feel its OK to shout the term "that foreign woman" you absolutely have to be sure of your facts. Moreover mind your own business!

I could have easily said the same thing, thinking they had made a mistake and were men and I was being helpful they were in the wrong place.

I think their behaviour was mean and unacceptable to be honest, I would have been horrified by the personal insults.

Obviously not that unlikely given that these two women were (rightly) offended by the assumption and called OP out on her rudeness.

I agree

They were dressed like men and aggressive.

Were you there blackcat007?

It was just a mistake I don’t think you meant harm by it. It’s really no different than me walking into a men’s bathroom recently. the door was labelled in Irish, I had the choice of Fir or Mna. Choose Fir and it was the wrong choice a man told me this is the men’s. Just exactly what you said! The women were probably annoyed. Chalk it up to a life lesson and don’t worry about it.

I completely disagree with you, but I think we've established that, so going round in circles seems like a waste of everyone's time.

No but I’ve read the OP posts.

Agreed

@Kirstyshine it wasn't a stranger. OP allegedly mistook not 1 person but 2 people for the a different gender!. If this is a genuine post OP needs to go to Specsavers for a sight check because before OP opened her mouth the 2 other ladies were not harming anybody. What we deem to look like a man is all relative.

You shouldn’t have said anything. Not sure why you felt so vulnerable being at a football stadium. They shouldn’t have continued it though especially in front of a child.